Warrant signed in murder of Chicago police officer

Luis Huesca (Chicago Police Department)

CHICAGO — A Cook County judge today signed an arrest warrant for a man in connection with the murder last weekend of off-duty Chicago Police Officer Luis Huesca.

Xavier Tate, 22, is charged with one count of first-degree murder, according to Cook County court records. CPD has not announced any arrests in the case.

Records also show that he is on pretrial release for a pending misdemeanor criminal trespass to residence case out of Olympia Fields, which was filed last month.

A federal task force assigned to the case searched a home in the 10800 block of South Hale this afternoon and recovered a firearm, among other pieces of evidence. Yesterday, investigators found what they believed to be the murderer’s bicycle in the 5500 block of South Aberdeen.

Huesca, who would have celebrated his 31st birthday tomorrow, was killed around 2:53 a.m. Sunday in the 3100 block of West 56th Street, not far from his home. CPD Supt. Larry Snelling said Huesca’s car was missing, but he would not say if the department believed Huesca was killed during a carjacking.

Investigators later found Huesca’s Toyota SUV abandoned a few blocks away, near 56th Street and Mozart.

Huesca, a six-year veteran returning from work in the Calumet (5th) District, was still wearing his police uniform when he was killed. Snelling said Huesca was wearing something over his uniform shirt. Two sources familiar with the investigation said his gun was missing when he was found.

Detectives released surveillance images and video on Monday of a person they wanted to speak with in connection with the crime. Cook County CrimeStoppers offered a reward of up to $10,000 for information leading to the arrest of anyone responsible for Huesca’s death.

Huesca’s wake is scheduled for Sunday afternoon, followed by his funeral on Monday morning.

CWBChicago will post updated reports as this story develops.

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